superego ({{Top}}surmoi) The term 'superego' does not appear until quite late{{Bottom}}
==Sigmund Freud==The term "[[superego]]" does not appear until quite late in [[Freud]]'s [[Sigmund Freud:Bibliography|work]], [[being ]] first introduced in ''[[The Ego and the Id ]]'' (Freud, 1923b1923). It
It was in this [[work ]] that [[Freud ]] introduced his so-called '"[[structural model']]", inwhich the [[psyche]] is [[divided]] into [[three]] [[agencies]]: the [[ego]], the [[id]] and the [[superego]].
However, the [[concept]] of a [[moral agency]] which judges and censures the psyche is divided into three agencies; [[ego]] can be found in [[Freud]]'s [[Sigmund Freud:Bibliography|work]] long before he locates these functions in the EGo[[superego]], the ID and thesuch as in his concept of [[censorship]].
==Jacques Lacan==[[Lacan]]'s first [[discussion]] of the [[superego]] comes in his articule on the [[family]]. However, the concept of a moral agency which judges and censures
In this work he distinguishes clearly between the [[superego]] and the '''[[ego can be found -ideal]]''', [[terms]] which [[Freud]] seems to use interchangeably in Freud's work long before he locates these functions in'[[The Ego and the Id]]''.
He argues that the primary function of the [[superego, such as ]] is to [[repress]] [[desire|sexual desire]] for the [[mother]] in his concept the [[resolution]] of censorshipthe [[Oedipus complex]].
LacanFollowing [[Freud]], he argues that the [[superego]] results from [[Oedipal]] [[identification]] with the [[father]], but he also refers to [[Kleinian psychoanalysis|Melanie Klein]]'s first discussion [[thesis]] on the [[maternal]] origins of an archaic [[form]] of the [[superego comes in his article on the family]].<ref>{{1938}} p. 59-60</ref>
(===Symbolic Law===When Lacanreturns to the subject of the superego in his 1953-4 [[seminar]]; he locates it in the [[symbolic|symbolic order]], 1938). In this work he distinguishes clearly between as opposed to the [[imaginary|imaginary order]] of the [[ego]]: the [[superego and]] is essentially located within the [[symbolic|symbolic plane]] of [[speech]].<ref>{{S1}} p. 102</ref>
The [[superego]] has a close [[relationship]] with the EGO-IDEAL[[Law]], terms which Freud seems to use interchangeably in The Ego andbut this relationship is a paradoxical one.
On the Id. He argues that one hand, the primary function of the superego [[Law]] as such is to repress sexuala [[symbolic]] [[structure]] which regualtes [[subjectivity]] and in this [[sense]] prevents disintegration.
desire for On the mother in other hand, the resolution [[law]] of the Oedipus complexsuperego has a "[[senseless]], blind [[character]], of pure imperativeness and simple tyranny.<ref>{{S1}} p. Following102</ref>
Freud, he argues that <blockquote>Thus "the superego results from Oedipal identification with is at one and thesame [[time]] the law and its [[destruction]]."<ref>{{S1}} p. 102</ref></blockquote>
fatherThe superego arises from the misunderstanding of the [[law]], but he also refers to Melanie Klein'from the [[gap]]s thesis on in the maternal origins of [[symbolic]] [[chain]], and fills out those [[gap]]s with an[[imaginary]] [[substitute]] that distorts the [[law]].<ref>{{E}} p. 143</ref>
archaic form of ===Philosophy===More specifically, in [[linguistic]] terms, "the superego (Lacan, 1938: 59-60)is an imperative."<ref>{{S1}} p.102</ref>
When In 1962, [[Lacan returns to ]] argues that this is none other than the subject of the superego in his 1953-4 seminar, he[[Kant]]ian [[categorical imperative]].
locates it in The specific imperative involved is the symbolic order, command "Enjoy!"; the [[superego]] is the [[Other]] insofar as opposed to the imaginary order of [[Other]] commands the ego:[[subject]] to [[enjoy]].
'The [[superego]] is thus the expression of the [[superego |will-to-enjoy]] (''volonte de jouissance''), which is essentially located within not the symbolic plane [[subject]]'s own will but the will of speechthe [[Other]], who assumes the form of [[Sade]]' (Sl,s "Supreme Being-in-[[Evil]]."<ref>{{Ec}} p. 773</ref>
102). The [[superego has ]] is an "[[obscene]], ferocious [[Figure]]"<ref>{{E}} p. 256</ref> which imposes "a close relationship with senseless, destructive, purely oppressive, almost always anti-legel [[morality]]" on the Law, but this relationship[[neurotic]] [[subject]].<ref>{{S1}} p. 102</ref>
The [[superego]] is a paradoxical one. On related to the one hand[[voice]], and thus to the Law as such is a symbolic structureinvoking [[drive]] and to [[sadism/masochism]].
which regulates subjectivity and in this sense prevents disintegration. On the==See Also=={{See}}* [[Ego]]* [[Desire]]||* [[Drive]]* [[Id]]||* [[Identification]]* ''[[Jouissance]]''||* [[Law]]* [[Oedipus complex]]||* [[Philosophy]]* [[Repression]]||* [[Structure]]* [[Symbolic]]{{Also}}
other hand, the law of the superego has a 'senseless, blind character, of pure==References== imperativeness and simple tyranny' (Sl, 102). Thus 'the superego is at one and the same time the law and its destruction' (Sl, 102). The superego arises from the misunderstanding of the law, from the gaps in the symbolic chain, and fills attempt to avoid the ambiguity and equivocation of discourse, it is precisely this ambiguity which psychoanalysis thrives on. Suggestion has a close relation with TRANSFERENCE (E, 270). If transference involves the analysand attributing knowledge to the analyst, suggestion refers to a particular way of responding to this attribution. Lacan argues that the analyst must realise that he only occupies the position of one who is presumed (by the analysand) to know, without fooling himself that he really does possess the knowledge attributed to him. In this way, the analyst is able to transform the transference into 'an analysis of suggestion' (E, 271). Suggestion, on the other hand, arises when the analyst assumes the position of one who really does know. Like Freud, Lacan sees hypnosis as the model of suggestion. In Group Psychology and the Analysis of the Ego, Freud shows how hypnotism makes the object converge with the ego-ideal (Freud, 1921). To put this in Lacanian terms, hypnotism involves the convergence of the object a and the I. Psycho<div style="font- analysis involves exactly the opposite, since 'the fundamental mainspring of the analytic operation is the maintenance of the distance between I - identi- fication - and the a' (S11, 273). superego (surmoi) The term 'superego' does not appear until quite late in Freud's work, being first introduced in The Ego and the Id (Freud, 1923b). It was in this work that Freud introduced his so-called 'structural model', in which the psyche is divided into three agencies; the EGo, the ID and the superego. However, the concept of a moral agency which judges and censures the ego can be found in Freud's work long before he locates these functions in the superego, such as in his concept of censorship. Lacan's first discussion of the superego comes in his article on the family (Lacan, 1938). In this work he distinguishes clearly between the superego and the EGO-IDEAL, terms which Freud seems to use interchangeably in The Ego and the Id. He argues that the primary function of the superego is to repress sexual desire for the mother in the resolution of the Oedipus complex. Following Freud, he argues that the superego results from Oedipal identification with the father, but he also refers to Melanie Klein's thesis on the maternal origins of an archaic form of the superego (Lacan, 1938size: 5911px" class="references-60). When Lacan returns to the subject of the superego in his 1953-4 seminar, he locates it in the symbolic order, as opposed to the imaginary order of the ego: 'the superego is essentially located within the symbolic plane of speech' (Sl,small"><references/>102). The superego has a close relationship with the Law, but this relationship</div>
is a paradoxical one. On the one hand, the Law as such is a symbolic structure which regulates subjectivity and in this sense prevents disintegration. On the other hand, the law of the superego has a 'senseless, blind character, of pure imperativeness and simple tyranny' (Sl, 102). Thus 'the superego is at one and the same time the law and its destruction' (Sl, 102). The superego arises from the misunderstanding of the law, from the gaps in the symbolic chain, and fills out those gaps with an imaginary substitute that distorts the law (see E, 143; see Lacan's almost identical remarks on the censorship: 'Censorship is always related to whatever, in discourse, is linked to the law in so far as it is not understood' - S2, 127). More specifically, in linguistic terms, 'the superego is an imperative' (Sl, 102). In 1962, Lacan argues that this is none other than the Kantian categorical imperative. The specific imperative involved is the command 'Enjoy!'; the superego is the Other insofar as the Other commands the subject to enjoy. The superego is thus the expression of the will-to-enjoy (volontÈ de jouissance), which is not the subject's own will but the will of the Other, who assumes the form of Sade's 'Supreme Being-in-Evil' (Ec, 773). The superego is an 'obscene, ferocious Figure' (E, 256) which imposes 'a senseless, destructive, purely oppressive, almost always anti-legal morality' on the neurotic subject (Sl, 102). The superego is related to the voice, and thus to the invoking drive and tO SADISM/MASOCHISM. The super-ego is the faculty that seeks to police what it deems unacceptable desires; it represents all moral restrictions and is the "advocate of a striving towards perfection" ("New Introductory Lectures" 22.67). Originally, the super-ego had the task of repressing the Oedipus complex and, so, is closely caught up in the psychodramas of the id; it is, in fact, a reaction-formation against the primitive object-choices of the id, specifically those connected with the Oedipus complex. The young heterosexual male deals with the Oedipus complex by identifying with and internalizing the father and his prohibitions: "The super-ego retains the character of the father, while the more intense the Oedipus complex was and the more rapidly it succumbed to repression (under the influence of discipline, religious teaching, schooling and reading), the more exacting later on is the domination of the super-ego over the ego—in the form of conscience or perhaps of an unconscious sense of guilt" ("Ego and the Id" 706). Given its intimate connection with the Oedipus complex, the super-ego is associated with the dread of castration. As we grow into adulthood, various other individuals or organizations will take over the place of the father and his prohibitions (the church, the law, the police, the government). Because of its connection to the id, the superego has the ability to become excessively moral and thus lead to destructive effects. The super-ego is closely connected to the "ego ideal." == References ==<references/>{{OK}}
[[Category:Lacan]][[Category:Terms]][[Category:Concepts]][[Category:Psychoanalysis]]__NOTOC__
